Relay



P. H. ESTES Nov. 24, 1942.'

RELAY Filed Nov. 1l, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR P. H. ESTES J\ ATTORNEY ,j

1.1.@ @umg Nav Filed Nov, llI 1937 P. H. RELAY 2 sheets-Sheet 2 mulmw alc,

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PH` ESTES Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RELAY Phillip Il. Estes, Rutherford, N. J., assignor to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 11, 1937, Serial No. 173,997

\ (cl. zoo-.166)

relay constructed in accordance with the inven Claims.

This invention relates to relays and more particularly to electromagnetic relays adapted for use in telegraph systems in conjunction with other telegraphic apparatus.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a relay which has relatively high armature torque whereby to decrease contact travel time and to substantially eliminate contact bounce.

Another object is to provide a relay of compact construction. y

A further object is to provide a relay having the magnetic parts thereof made from a material such as to minimize distortion losses.

A still further object is to provide relay constructed in a novel manner from corrdsion resist- -ing materials.

Still another obiect is to provide a novel mounting for .the movable armature of an electromagnet whereby to increase the area of the v air gap.

A still further object is to provide novel adjusting means for relay contacts.

A still further object is to provide novel means for accurately adjusting the retractile force on the armature.

Still another object is to4 provide a relay armature with novel means for carrying a contact.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mounting base or receptacle with means adapting it to receive only electrical in struments of the same type designated by code'y markings on the name plate or on the shell or casing of the instrument. i

The foregoing and more specific objects will appear from the following complete disclosure of the invention. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a relay constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation taken from the right side of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view on line l-l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of a shell or casing adapted to llt over a relay of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view in top plan of the casing in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of a mounting base adapted selectively to receive a relay constructed as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a view in plan of the mounting base of F18. 7;

partially `sectioned Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a modiiled 55 tion;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view taken from the right of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view in section on line li-H of Fig. 9:

Fig. l2 is an enlarged view in section on line I2|2 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of a slightly modied form of casingr or shell; and

Fig. 14 is a view in plan of a relay assembled Awith a mounting base.

A speciic example of a relay constructed in accordance with the present invention is dis closed in Figs. 1 to 4. This relay is a compact self-contained piece of apparatus provided with means in accordance with the invention whereby it may readily be connected in the system in which it is to be used by inserting it in a separate base or receptacle shown in Fig. 7. The base or receptacle of Fig. 7 can be adapted to receive different relays or other instruments constructed in accordance with the invention but each having special characteristics or special operating fea tures, and when the base of Fig. 7 is wired or otherwise'arranged to receive an instrument or relay of a given type, no other instrument, although of similar appearance, can be inserted in the receptacle or base by accident'.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the relay designated in its entirety by reference character lil, comprises an electromagnetic core structure il and a pivoted armature i2 cooperating therewith. The core or stationary structure ii is E-shaped and is built up of nickel iron laminations, the middle leg of which is passed through the magnet coil i4. The laminations are secured together in any suitable manner but preferably by rivets of a magnetic grade of stainless steel. The magnetic nickel iron alloy referred to throughout this specification is one containing approximately 45% nickel having a high permeability and a high resistance. The core ll is clamped along one edge by screws l5 between two frame members I6 and Il formed preferably from strips of nickel chrome stainless steel. The opposite edge of the core structure il is clamped by screws i5 between similar frame members i8 and i9. The frame members i6 to I9 extend downwardly beyond the core structure and are secured to a base member 2c of any suitable insulating material. The base member is relatively wide as viewed in Fig. 2 and cooperates with a pair of pins 2i, one of which is retained between frame members i5 and Il and the other between members I8 and I9, to space the cover of Fig. 5 from the metal parts of the relay. The pins 2I are preferably of insulating material. Embedded in the body of this base member are socket terminals 22, in the present instance seven, which are suitably connected by the leads 23 to the relay contacts to be described and the coil I 4 or subdivisions thereof in the event that the coil is especially wound to adapt the relay for use on duplex telegraph circuits.

The upper ends of the frame members I6 to I9 are offset as shown in Fig. 2 and carry a block of suitable insulating material 26 which is roughly in the form of an inverted U comprising two downwardly extending legs 21. 'Ihe means for securing the frame members to the block 26 comprise an internally threaded stud 28 and a screw 29, the former of which has an enlarged portion serving as a bearing or pivot for a link 3I of the tension adjusting mechanism for the armature retractile spring 32. A filler in the form of a washer 33 lies between the member 3I and the insulating member 26. A lever member 34, to which one end of the spring 32 is secured, is

pivoted on the enlarged portion of a second stud 29 similar to the one previously mentioned cooperates with the last named stud 28 to clamp the frame members I3 and vI9 to the insulating member 26. The link or lever 3I is provided with an inturned end 33 which engages under the lower edge of the lever 34 so that as the lever 3i swings in a clockwise direction, the lever 34 will swing in a counter-clockwise direction but with an amplified movement thereby stretching the spring 32 to increase the tension on the armature I2 to which the spring 32 is secured at 31. In order conveniently to impart swinging movements to the lever 3| for purposes of adjustment, a member 38 is rigidly secured thereon and is slotted to embrace an adjusting screw 39 between collars 4I and 42. The screw 39 is threadedly engaged in an aperture in the block 26 and is provided with a conveniently shaped thumb piece S33. The shank of the screw 39 is preferably of spring material and split lengthwise to provide tight engagement with the bore in the cap 26 to avoid the possibility of loss of adjustment due to vibration. The levers 3I and 34 at their point of engagement are preferably so arranged that the effective length of the spring can be doubled by approximately two turns of the knob 43.

The armature i2 is pivoted between two nickel iron strips 46 and R1 (Fig. 4) by means of a pivot pin 49 which serves as a journal for a sleeve 5U non-rotatably secured to the armature and extending laterally irom the armature filling the space between the strips 46 and 41 whereby to prevent lateral movement of the armature. The magnetic flux passing through the central leg of the core II is divided, a portion passing through each of the two outer legs and entering the armature at its extreme ends. The method of mounting the armature just described provides an increase in the area of the air gap between the core structure II and the armature. of German silver or other non-corrosive nonmagnetic material prevents the armature from touching the core. The movable contact 5 I, which is actuated by the armature, is carried in a novel manner by the flattened portion 52 of a loop including two upstanding legs 53 which are integral- A strip 50' ly joined to spaced laminations of the laminated armature structure. The contact 5I is secured to the flattened portion 52 of the loop bar in any suitable manner such as by welding or brazing. The adjustable stationary contacts 54 are brazed or otherwise secured to spring members 56 (Figs. 1 and 3) and each spring member is secured by means of screws 51 against a shoulder 58 formed underneath the cap 26. An appropriate terminal 22 in the base of the relay is connected by one of the leads 23 to one of -the contacts 56 by means of a terminal clip 59 which is clamped beneath the heads of the screws 51. In order to provide for accurate adjustment of the contacts 54 without any lateral shifting, a guide pin 6I is secured to a spring member l62 which is guided on the bottom of the block 26 as shown to prevent rotation of the pin 6I. I'he pin 6I is moved for adjustment of the contact by means of a set screw 63 preferably having a pitch of thread such that a one-quarter turn corresponds to contact movement of .006 inch.

' It is believed that operation and adjustment of the relay of Figs. 1 and 2 will be obvious from the foregoing. Briefly, however, when the coil or coils I4 are energized to produce flux in the core structure II, the armature I2 is attracted toward the core structure moving the contact 5I from out of engagement with one of the contacts 54 and into engagement with the other. The tension of the spring 32 which opposes the torque of the armature I2 is conveniently adjusted by turning of the knob 43 which, when turned in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the top of the instrument, swings the lever 3I in a clockwise direction and the lever 34 in a counter-clockwise direction, elongating the spring 32 and increasing its tension. Adjustment of the contacts 54, as pointed out above, by means of screws 63, results only in reciprocation of the contacts 54 without lateral shifting or rotation about any axis.

The relay structure I0 is covered for protection by means of a shell or casing 66 (Figs. 'l and 8) which may be conveniently slipped downwardly over the relay structure and secured thereon by means of screws 61 engaged in apertures B8 in the base 2I. To prevent reversal of the casing when it is applied over the relay, the base 2| is provided with a tongue 1I which is adapted to engage a recess or slot 12 formed interiorly of the casing adjacent its lower edge. The receptacle or sub-base 13 (Fig. 9) which receives the relay in use may be constructed in a simple manner by forming a shell 14 from relatively thingauge, light weight material, such as aluminum, and providing interior protuberances as shown by reference character 16 at the corners thereof to support a plate or shelf of insulating material 11, which carries contact plug members 18 engageable with the terminals 22. Tongue members 19 which hold the shelf 11 in position are struck out from the walls of the shell 14. The base is provided with a recess 15 which cooperates with the key-like projection on the cover 66 which results from formation of the recess 12. It will be obvious, however, that the key-like projection on the cover may be formed in any suitable manner. An outwardly turned flange 8l preferably integral with the shell 14 provides for securing the sub-base in a stationary manner upon a table or other support. By omitting the flange 8| from the bottom of the shell 16, the sub-base I3 may be inserted in a suitable socket in panel or other support. A flange similar to the flange 8| accepts is then `*preferably formed adjacentiti-:lie.topi oi' the shell 16 to maintain the Yshell in position in the socket-' fr..

fInorder thatonly a certain type of instrument or .onewired in acertain way maybey inserted rin type of instrument to be accommodated in the base. In the speciic examplesshown, two keys are provided which` may be connected -to the base in tenv combinations. Thekeys 83cooperate with protuberances or lugs 88 which may be formed lfrom the material of the` shell 66 oras shown fromthe material of the plate l89 securedy to the shell 6.6.- The plate, 89 is conveniently available as a name plate bearing the number or other designating mark toidentify the particular type of instrument.l y Y, y y

By the -means just described, it will be seen that the cover 66 can be 'applied to the relay only in a certain way, thus insuringy that, the terminal members'22 will be engaged only with the proper plug members 18 and that by proper placing of the keys 83, only the type or kind of relay which is to be used at a given time in the basef14 can be inserted therein.

Figs. 9 to 12 yshw a modified form of relay embodying the invention in which an additional electromagnet 92 is provided for holding the relay amature 93 in its actuated position after movenetto minimize possibility of interference. The

side frame members and the magnetic strip members` |04 are 'spaced' apartabove-the: armature I0 I by a.cylindricalmember 2|a ofinsulating material which extends laterally beyond each of the framemembers so asto position a cover 66a out of contact with metallic parts oitherelay.v

\ plurality ofapertures 86 in accordancewith the ment under the influence of the coil of the main magnet 94. The terminal base 20a, the contact mounting block 26a and the contact parts and contact adjusting parts including the adjusting knob 43a are substantially identical with those already described in connection with Figs. l to 4 of the drawings. The electromagnetic structure of the relay of Figs. 9 to 12 differs somewhat from that disclosed in Fig. 1 and will now be described.

The main magnet 94 comprises a substantially U-shaped laminated core member formed of a nickel iron alloy on one upstanding leg of which is mounted the main magnet coil. The remaining leg of the U-shaped member is clamped between two frame members 96 and 91 which are similar in design and function to the members I8 and |9 of Fig 1. The armature 93 shown in detail by Fig, 11 includes a sleeve 50a which is pivoted on a pin 49a in a manner similar to that already fully described in connection with Fig. 4, between two nickel iron strips which extend above the laminated core structure so as to provide an increased area of the air gap as has already been described in connection with Fig. 4 of the drawings. The movable contact 5|a is carried by the upper end of a loop-shaped member comprising two legs 63a which are integrally joined to two non-magnetic strips 98 and 99, the latter being included between the laminations of the armature 93. Carried by the free ends of the members 98 and 99 is a rectangular body of laminations |0| of nickel iron material which cooperates with an upstanding T-shaped magnet core |02, the latter being surrounded by the auxiliary or locking coil |03. The magnetic circuit which includes and acts upon the armature i6| is completed by a pair of magnetic alloy strip members |44 which are clamped between each of the side frame members |06 and |01 and a centrally disposed U-shaped member |08, the latter being formed of a nickel iron alloy. This magnetic circuit, it will benoted, is in a plane substantially perpendicular to that of the main mag- Thecore I02vis recessed adjacent its lower end to. accommodate a clampingscrew II'I which passes through the U-shaped lmember |08 and threadedly engages the side frame member |06.

Rigidity -is imparted'to the entire structure ofthe relay-and the member. |08 is rigidly mounted in' position by. means of a non-magneticy bracket' member `I|2- (Fig-12)l which issecuredv to the member |08 by' suitable fastening means V| |4.1 The bracket member |I2 embraces lthe yoke `or lower part yof the core of ythe main magnet 94 to which it is secured by a bolt or other `suitable fastening means i I6. The vertical leg ofthe core structure-of the main magnet 94 has certain of its laminations shortened adjacent their lower ends to permit th'e member |`|2 to be accommodated betweenthe frame-members 96 and 91, and the remaining laminations of the core structure. A screwA or other fastening means |I8 clamps the frame members together at this point. The nonmagnetic armature pieces '98 and 99 and the bracket II2 are used to prevent transfer of flux between the main and auxiliary magnets.

The rectangular T-shaped head of the magnet core in combination with the magnetic strips |04 provides an 'air gap of greatly increased area since the flux appearing in the members |04 will provide the armature |0| with the same flux distribution regardless of whether the armature is at its upper or lower limit of travel. Also, should the armature be displaced laterally, as viewed in Fig. 10, the increased reluctance of the path from one strip |04 to the armature is compensated for by the decreased reluctance from the other strip |04 to the armature.

The casing 66a, previously referred to, is used to enclose and protect the mechanism of the relay and when in position it is secured to th'e base 2 I a by fastening means 61a. The insulating members 2|a previously described, which protrude beyond the side frame members 96 and 91 and the corresponding members |06 and |01, prevent the casing 66a from touching any of the metal parts of the relay structure.

Fig. 14 shows a relay of the kind described in connection with Figs. 9 to l2 accommodated in a subbase 13 of the kind shown in Fig. '1 of the drawings. The key or stop members 83 are placed in a different position so as to accommodate the protuberance or lug 88a formed from the material of the name plate 89a secured to the shell 66a. It will be noted that when the key members 83 of the receptacle or sub-base 13 are positioned as shown in Fig, 12, ,only a relay or instrument like that disclosed in Figs. 9 to 12 can be inserted therein. In order to insure properV assembly of the case 66a to the relay structure, a key member 1Ia is formed on the block of insulating material 2|.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel and compact form of relay which may be conveniently interconnected into a system of associated electrical apparatus, and further that a relay constructed in accordance with th'e present invention may be readily adjusted and the maintenance thereof is reduced to a minimum because of the non-corrosive character of the parts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a circuit making and breaking device, an adjustable mounting for a contact comprising resilient means for supporting the contact, a reciprocable member axially aligned and in ensagement with said contact and said contact supporting means, and means axially aligned with and independent oi said reciprocable means to impart a movement of reciprocation thereto.

2. In a circuit making and breaking device, a exible contact support, a contact carried by said support, a non-rotatable pin member axially aligned with said contact and reciprocable to adjust the working position of said contact and means for nxing the position o! said pin member to render said member eiiective to provide a fixed stop for said contact in axial alignment therewith to maintain said contact in its plane oi' operation by preventing rotation thereof about any axis.

3. In a circuit making and breaking device, an insulating member, an initially dat spring bent into U-shape secured on said insulating member, a contact carried by said spring, a reciprocable pin member slidably mounted in said insulating member for adjusting said contact against the action of said spring in a longitudinal direction, said reciprocable member being axially aligned with said contact and means for fixing the position oi.' said pin whereby the position of said 30 contact is fixed.

tlnacixcuitmakingandbreakingdevice. an adjustable mounting for a contact comprising an insulating member, a U-sbaped spring eecuredtosaidinsulatingmember,acontactle curedtosaidspring,aoontsct adJustingmember slidably mounted in said insulating member for engaging said contact and being axially aligned therewith. and a screw axially aligned with said contact and said pin member and having threaded engagement with said insulating member tn impart sliding movement to said contact adjusting member.

5. In a circuit making and breaking device, an insulating member and a contact supported tran said insulating member by In initially fiat spring bent into U-shape, said insulating member being provided with a bore. a reciprocating member re ceived in said bore and ming said U-lhaped spring at the axis oi said contact, a resilient member connected to said reciprocable member and engaging a shoulder on said insulating member to prevent rotation of said reciprocable member, and a screw threaded member having threaded engagement with threads in said bore contact member.

PHILLIP H. ESTES. 

